EU chief seeks sanctions on Russian LNG to pressure Moscow over Ukraine war

EU chief seeks sanctions on Russian LNG to pressure Moscow over Ukraine war

In an effort to put an end to Moscow’s “brutal” conflict in Ukraine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has released a 19th package of sanctions against Russia.

Von der Leyen stated on Friday that “Russia’s war economy is supported by fossil fuel revenues.” We want to reduce these expenses. Therefore, we are preventing Russian LNG from entering European markets.

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Before they can go into effect, all 27 EU member states must support the sanctions.

Von der Leyen urged members to quickly support the decision, saying, “It is time to turn off the tap.”

We want Russia to leave the battlefield and join the table of negotiations, she continued, stating that this would give peace a real chance.

More than 2,500 individuals, including banks, ministries, energy companies, and officials, have already been the targets of EU sanctions.

Vladimir Putin, his close associates, dozens of Russian lawmakers, and several oligarchs are just some examples of the sanctioned individuals. Travel bans and asset freezes are a major part of the measures.

Von der Leyen claimed that the bloc’s current sanctions are working.

She remarked that Russia’s overheated war economy was “coming to its limits” and that the nation’s inflation rate is persistently high.

Although reaching a consensus on new targets frequently takes weeks, the EU has so far passed 18 sanctions against Moscow.

Russia’s largest LNG buyer was Europe, which accounted for roughly 16 percent of the total imports last year.

Russia’s use of their veto power has been known to cause problems for Hungary and Slovakia by blocking any further action.

Moscow will “pay the price,” according to the statement.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated in a separate statement that the group was moving upstream of its previous commitment to stop all LNG imports by 12 months.

By the time January 1st, 2027, we want to accelerate the liquefied natural gas transition in Russia, she wrote on X.

Moscow believes it can maintain its conflict. It will pay the price for it, we guarantee.

Kallas added that the organization was “making it easier” to prosecute those responsible for kidnapping Ukrainian children.

Russia has faced widespread criticism for deporting Ukrainian families, many of whom have children, since 2022.

Kallas wrote on social media that “it is beyond description to tear kids from their families and deport them to re-education camps.” We won’t allow Russia to use violence against children.

Georgian businessmen are the target of UK sanctions.

Meanwhile, the UK imposed sanctions on two Georgian businessmen and two tankers carrying Russian oil on Friday for their support of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The UK’s foreign ministry stated in a statement that “the UK has announced new sanctions against Georgia-linked supporters of Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine.”

The Kremlin is increasingly looking for proxies in third countries to support its war and propaganda operations, including those in Georgia, according to a statement from the ministry.

Levan Vasadze, a Georgian politician and media mogul, is accused by the UK of spreading pro-Russian disinformation among the sanctioned individuals.

Former Georgian prosecutor general Otar Partskhaladze, who according to London had “extensive links to Russia,” was also sanctioned.

In contrast to Western restrictions, two tankers were ordered to carry Russian oil into the Georgian port in Batumi.

According to the statement from Minister of State Stephen Doughty, “Putin’s war machine relies on an international web to spread lies and finance this network.”

Source: Aljazeera

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